fuel consumption

[derek c]

I operate a ceed 3 1.6 crdi auto it has now covered just over 7000 miles and in my opinion it has poor fuel consumption. I went from Cambridge to Kendal
and back, two drivers, 90 % on the A1 and 90% on cruise control at the max speed of 60mph, total mileage 506 miles and the return was 46 mpg
It does 30 mpg around town. Kia and Agent state thats ok.
In my opinion it is not worth going diesel for the lower price of petrol and the higher cost of sevicing a diesel engine. ie, the cost of oil changes servicing injectors and filters.

[johnfranklyn]

Sorry to disappoint derek c but your fuel consumption for your Ceed 3 matches mine and I got my motor backi in 2008. Using winter tyres it drops another four MPG.
Other members have pointed out Kia and other manufactures get their figures often on a rolling road thus facing no windage. I find its general to be conned by different manufactures and fully expect it by now. Perhaps someone will publish honest figures one day? As far as diesel versus petrol costs in this country I find it hard to understand. It did favour the diesel owner at one time but now it seems producing diesel is more costly than producing petrol. I believe I read in France it is more the other way around?. Is diesel actually more expensive to produce I wonder? With regard to Injector servicing I must have been lucky with my last five diesel cars as I never found a need to have them serviced. It seems the diesel producers make it clean at least. Sorry I can’t offer any words of comfort, we are here to be conned and taxed to death by the politicos, no matter who is in power.

[derek c]

Thank you Johnfranklyn for your reply. Yes Kia state that the fuel consumption they supply are incorrect they deduct 15% off that reading plus another 5% for a auto.
Breakdown of a barrel of crude oil is 19.5 parts petrol, 9.2 parts diesel, 4.1 parts jet fuel ( listen to those passenger air craft ) then there is other products in there until they get to the rubbish at the bottom which they set light to, to make soot and call it carbon black to which they make tyres. Who uses tyres ? Yes a con, why is petrol so expensive and the govenment want it to be kept high for their percentage

[SWCeed]

Yet another owner who does not understand that the official fuel consumption figures cannot be achieved in the real world. 20% off them is correct for all makes and not just Kia.

[derek c]

I agree SWCeed with your statement but 256 miles up the A1 and 256 miles back at 60 mph most the time on cruise control and returning 46mpg is very disapointing

[SWCeed]

Originally Posted by derek c

I agree SWCeed with your statement but 256 miles up the A1 and 256 miles back at 60 mph most the time on cruise control and returning 46mpg is very disapointing

The official figure for your car is 49.6mpg, 46mpg is only about 7% less than the official. The official on our Ceed is 60.1, on a run we can get about 56mpg, that again is 7% less than the official.

Personally I think getting only 7% less than the official on a run is brilliant. Our other car never betters 54mpg on a run and its official is 62.8mpg, that's 16% less.

Be happy, you are doing very well.

[Disbeliever]

My New Ceed 2 1.6 Diesel auto 38 mpg average over 1250 miles both Town & Motorway combined. Best mpg from any petrol auto I have owned was 26 mpg ,so the advantage of a diesel for me is better mpg and acceleration.

[Wry 'Cuda]

Originally Posted by derek c

I operate a ceed 3 1.6 crdi auto it has now covered just over 7000 miles and in my opinion it has poor fuel consumption. 46 mpg (Highway) 30 mpg (Town).

In my opinion it is not worth going diesel for the lower price of petrol and the higher cost of sevicing a diesel engine.

Your figures of 46/30 mpg (Imperial gallons) show that you are doing your tests OK (Highway 50% better than Town). The only way you'll do any better is by driving at constant (slowish) speeds on the highway or by doing silly econo stuff in town.

We get comparable economy from our 2.0 (Petrol) Cerato (42 Highway/30 Town), so I imagine you are somewhat disappointed with your diesel.

There was a time when diesel was a lot cheaper than petrol in Australia (something like 30% cheaper, I recall). but now its 5% more expensive. Diesel price rises are usually attributed to demand from the mining industry.

Only 10% of our cars are diesel; it used to be the preserve of "mad old uncles" chugging around in their Pugs, but now many diesels are seen as luxury items.

[Ace Demon]

Originally Posted by johnfranklyn

Other members have pointed out Kia and other manufactures get their figures often on a rolling road thus facing no windage. I find its general to be conned by different manufactures and fully expect it by now. Perhaps someone will publish honest figures one day?

The figures are obtained from an official test and are the only figures manufacturers are allowed to quote. It's misleading but the manufacturers are only doing what they're told.

As far as diesel versus petrol costs in this country I find it hard to understand. It did favour the diesel owner at one time but now it seems producing diesel is more costly than producing petrol. I believe I read in France it is more the other way around?

Diesel tax in France is lower.

Part of the problem is that we buy fuel by volume which ignores energy density. Energy density (which effectively amounts to miles travelled) varies by 10% through the seasons, with diesel containing about 10% more energy than petrol. In other words, a diesel car doing 50mpg is almost directly equivalent to a petrol car doing 45mpg, all else being equal. The seasonal variation means that if the ticket price stays the same through the year, different amounts of energy are being purchased for the money.

So, when considering it in terms of units of energy purchased, it is correct for diesel to cost more then petrol, per litre. By rights, summer prices for both should be higher than winter, not the other way round.

By contrast, energy density by weight is pretty constant, with only a small difference between petrol and diesel. Technically, it would be more appropriate to buy fuel by the kilogram and to track fuel consumption in miles per kilogram.

[johnfranklyn]

Thanks for the head up Ace demon. Understand a bit more now and not quite so resentfull at fuel production prices now. Up here in the highlands we pay on average twelve pence a ltr more than in the populated areas. A car is a must, no public transport to be seen and the less well off crofters have to dive a long way to buy a bit of shopping. Its a cruel world for them and I get a bit narked at fuel taxes. Its easy to understand why such a cheap to collect tax is popular with all governments but why can't they look a little further?